SIPRI YEARBOOK 1997

9. The trade in major conventional weapons*
Ian Anthony, Pieter D. Wezeman and Siemon T. Wezeman

The SIPRI global trend-indicator value of international transfers of major conventional weapons in 1996 was c. $23 billion, in constant (1990) US dollars. This means that the volume of major conventional weapons delivered was unchanged from 1995. The USA remained the dominant exporter while, among the importers, the most prominent trend is the growing share of deliveries to North-East Asia. A survey of the potential arms procurement programmes of Central and East European countries suggests that there is little evidence that this subregion will emerge as an important market for major conventional weapons even if some of the countries become members of NATO. Similarly, a survey of Ukraine suggests that it has limited opportunities to establish itself as a major arms exporter.

In 1997 a group of government experts will evaluate the UN Register of Conventional Arms. A major issue will be how to include standardized reporting of equipment holdings and procurement through national production in the Register.

Appendices 9A and 9B, by Ian Anthony, Gerd Hagmeyer-Gaverus, Pieter D. Wezeman and Siemon T. Wezeman, provide data on the trade in major conventional weapons in 1996.

Appendix 9C explains the sources and methods for the data collection.